Political Instigations, Cultural Practices and Conflict Over Resources Blamed for Insecurity in North Rift

NAIROBI Kenya August 14 -A Parliamentary Committee has blamed politicians working with criminals, cultural significance, inter communal conflicts and banditry as the reasons behind the insecurity in the six North Rift counties of Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu and Laikipia.

The Committee on Administration and Internal Security chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo in a report presented in Parliament of August 13 alleges that some politicians have colluded with criminal networks and armed groups to gain power, influence and resources to enable them incentivize the maintenance of instability, a move that has undermined efforts to establish lasting peace in the region.

The committee further claimed that some rogue politicians have been providing support, including arms, ammunition and auxiliary resources to criminals to carry out raids in order to gain political supremacy and control of their neighboring communities’ land.

According to the report, a total of 491 security incidents were reported across the six counties between February and August 2023, with Turkana county experiencing the highest rate of incidents while Elgeyo Markwet having the lowest incidents.

“The North Rift region is experiencing ongoing insecurity due to persistent cattle rustling and banditry. These bandits have escalated their attacks on resident’s security personnel, government facilities and motorists, leading to significant displacement, property damage, vandalism of schools, and a decline in economic activity, thereby posing a serious security challenge,” the report reads.

It adds: “Overall the primary causes of conflict and criminal activity such as banditry, theft and violence remain rooted in resource disputes, political instigations, cultural significance and inter communal conflicts.”

As a result, the Committee has recommended that the Ministry of Interior and National Administration should initiate a systematic intelligence-led operation in the region to deal with the criminal networks.

They further recommended that the ministry should prioritize intelligence gathering to obtain accurate and real-time information on the activities and movements of criminal groups for effective crime prevention and response.

“The Ministry of Interior and National Administration, and National Police Service should initiate a disarmament exercise aimed at confiscating all illicit firearms held by unlicensed civilians in all areas in the six counties of North Rift,” the report reads.

In Laikipia County for instance, the report notes that the persistent insecurity is attributed to armed land invasions by herders from Samburu, Isiolo, and Baringo counties.

The conflicts primarily involve agriculturalists, pastoralists and wildlife conservation driven by competition for land, pasture, water and other resources.

In Baringo county, the report says that insecurity is driven by livestock raids for commercial purposes, restocking after droughts and dowry payments which have been made worse by boundary and territorial disputes, particularly involving the Pokot community encroachment on parts of Baringo.

“The persistence of outdated cultural practices such as high bride prices and glorification of warriors, further escalated tensions,” the report states.

In Samburu county the conflicts arise from competition over scarce natural resources, particularly between the Samburu and Turkana Communities over access to water, grazing land, which led to violent confrontations. Politicization of community boundary issues and cultural practices such as Moranisim, which encourages cattle rustling, have also been identified as other factors.

In Turkana County, the conflicts and criminal activities are primarily driven by ethnic hostility, competition for pasture and water, boundary disputes, cultural practices, commercial interests, breaches of peace agreements and political interference.

The report also notes that the proliferation of illegal arms fuels the conflict, while cultural practices such as high bride prices and the glorification of warriors contribute to violence.

“Stock theft is driven by cultural and economic motives, including the need to restock herds depleted during droughts. The conflict is attributed to competition over natural and mineral resources, a discriminatory disarmament programme, militia formation by Pokot leadership, and compromised security agencies,” it further reads.

In West Pokot, the key contributing factors to the ongoing conflict in the region include resource scarcity and the commercialization of cattle rustling, driven by accessible markets.

In Elgeyo Marakwet County, the report notes that the security efforts are significantly challenged due to proliferation of firearms, inadequate security infrastructure, insufficient resources for National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), and community hostility towards security agencies.